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Impact of LISA's low-frequency sensitivity on observations of massive black-hole mergers

J Baker and J Centrella

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LISA will be able to detect gravitational waves from inspiralling massive black-hole (MBH) binaries out to redshifts z > 10. If the binary masses and luminosity distances can be extracted from the LISA data stream, this information can be used to reveal the merger history of MBH binaries and their host galaxies in the evolving universe. Since this parameter extraction generally requires that LISA observe the inspiral for a significant fraction of its yearly orbit, carrying out this programme requires adequate sensitivity at low frequencies, f < 10−4 Hz. Using several candidate low-frequency sensitivities, we examine LISA's potential for characterizing MBH binary coalescences at redshifts z > 1. The results underscore the need for more detailed work towards understanding the potential scientific value of the low-frequency part of LISA's sensitivity band.


PACS

04.80.Nn Gravitational wave detectors and experiments

98.65.Fz Galaxy mergers, collisions, and tidal interactions

98.62.Py Distances, redshifts, radial velocities; spatial distribution of galaxies

04.70.-s Physics of black holes

MSC

85A05 Galactic and stellar dynamics

83C57 Black holes

83C35 Gravitational waves

Subjects

Gravitation and cosmology

Astrophysics and astroparticles

Dates

Issue 10 (21 May 2005)

Received 22 November 2004, in final form 24 March 2005

Published 26 April 2005



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